Kupwara’s watch market faces an uncertain dawn

Kupwara, Feb 18: For over half a century, time has not merely been measured in Kupwara’s iconic watch market, it has been meticulously mended. Tucked away in the heart of the town, this small yet storied cluster of shops has been more than a marketplace; it has been a sanctuary of craftsmanship, where timepieces whisper stories of resilience and heritage. Founded by Sikh families who made Kupwara their home after partition, the market became a lifeline for generations of artisans.

Fathers taught sons the delicate art of restoring a watch’s lost heartbeat, passing down not just a skill but a legacy. But now, as the digital world tightens its grip, the ticking hands of these timekeepers are falling silent.

Once, the market thrived. The steady hum of traders, the rhythmic click of gears being adjusted, and the gleam of polished dials under warm shop lights gave the place an air of quiet dignity. But in the past eight years, business has withered. The modern world, enamoured with screens and disposable gadgets, has little patience for timepieces that demand care and precision.

Jagjit Singh, who has spent his life in this market, runs his fingers over the glass counter of his shop, as if tracing the past. “This is not just a business, it is our identity. If the market disappears, so does a part of us,” he says, his voice tinged with both pride and sorrow.

The concern is echoed by Gurdev Singh, another vendor whose hands, once nimble with the tools of his trade, now rest idly on his workbench. “We need support. A little recognition, a little help to bring back what we’ve built. Otherwise, this market will become just another forgotten chapter in history.”

Yet, hope lingers, fragile but determined. The vendors have reached out to the district administration, pleading for rehabilitation, for new shops, for an effort to transform the market into a cultural landmark. They believe that with the right push, tourists could be drawn to this haven of old-world craftsmanship, where every watch carries a story.

The administration has listened. Promises have been made. But promises, like unwound watches, do not move forward unless action follows. As the sun sets over Kupwara, the once, bustling watch market stands in the fading light, its fate hanging by a thread. Will it find a saviour, or will it fade into the silence of forgotten time? The answer, much like an unwound watch, waits.